Thin film transistor array panel and method of manufacturing the same

ABSTRACT

A plurality of gate lines having gate electrodes are formed on a substrate and a semiconductor layer is formed on a gate insulating layer covering the gate lines. A plurality of data lines intersecting the gate lines are formed on the gate insulating layer and a plurality of drain electrodes are formed extending parallel with and adjacent to the data lines. Furthermore, a plurality of storage capacitor conductors are formed to be connected to the drain electrodes and to overlap an adjacent gate line. A passivation layer made of an organic material is formed on the above structure and has a contact hole. Furthermore, a plurality of pixel electrodes are formed to be electrically connected to the drain electrodes through the contact hole.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of U.S. application Ser.No. 11/695,937 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,662,651, filed Apr. 3, 2007, which isa divisional application of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/010,151 nowU.S. Pat. No. 7,214,965, filed Dec. 10, 2004, which claims priority toand the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2003-0089491, filedon Dec. 10, 2003, both of which are incorporated by reference herein intheir entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a thin film transistor array panel anda method of manufacturing the same, and more particularly, to a thinfilm transistor array panel used in a liquid crystal display device anda method of manufacturing the same.

2. Description of the Related Art

Generally, liquid crystal display (hereinafter, referred to as “LCD”)devices are one type of flat panel display devices. The LCD devicesinclude two insulating substrates in which field-generating electrodesare formed and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the twoinsulating substrates. The LCD devices display images according totransmittance of light by rearrangement of liquid crystal molecules inthe liquid crystal layer, as the intensity of the electric field to beapplied to the liquid crystal layer changes.

A thin film transistor (hereinafter, referred to as “TFT”) array panelis manufactured by one or more photolithography processes usingphoto-resist patterns, and on a mother glass, there are manufactured aplurality of the TFT array panels.

In the large-scale LCD devices, because each active area in one motherglass is larger than the size of a mask, a divided exposure method, inwhich performs one or more photolithography processes are performed toform desired patterns, is needed. In this case, there has been a problemthat misalignment between the patterns in the manufacturing processesoccurs. This results in varying parasitic capacitances between wiringsand pixel electrodes and in dislocating the patterns due to defects suchas shift, rotation, distortion, etc, of the mask. As a result, theseproblems vary the electrical characteristics, reduce the aperture ratioand vary the brightness in the vicinity of the boundary of the TFT arraypanel.

Meanwhile, the pixel electrodes have been designed to overlap gate anddata lines to increase the aperture ratio, and an insulating layer isformed between the pixel electrodes and the gate and data lines toreduce the parasitic capacitance therebetween. However, there are someproblems that the inversed arrangement of liquid crystal moleculesunintentionally generates in the vicinity of a contact hole forcontacting the pixel electrodes and drain electrodes. These problemsresult in a leakage light and deteriorating display quality of the LCDdevice. More recently, there has been proposed a wider opaque film, butthis structure reduces the aperture ratio and cannot obtain the apertureratio at higher resolutions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of present invention provides a thin film transistor (TFT)array panel comprising an insulating substrate; gate lines formed on theinsulating substrate; a gate insulating layer formed on the gate lines;a plurality of semiconductor layers formed on the gate insulating layer;data lines formed on the semiconductor layers and having a plurality ofsource electrodes; drain electrodes extending parallel with and adjacentto the data lines; conductive layers electrically connected to the drainelectrodes and overlapping an adjacent gate line; an insulating layerformed on or above the semiconductor layers, the drain lines, the drainelectrodes, and the conductive layers; and pixel electrodes formed onthe insulating layer and electrically connected to the conductive layerselectrodes through a contact hole, wherein the pixel electrodes coverboth the data lines and the drain electrodes.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides a thin filmtransistor (TFT) array panel comprising an insulating substrate; gatelines formed on the insulating substrate; a gate insulating layer formedon the gate lines; a plurality of semiconductor layers formed on thegate insulating layer; data lines formed on the semiconductor layers andhaving a plurality of source electrodes; drain electrodes extendingparallel with and adjacent to the data lines; conductive layerselectrically connected to the drain electrodes and overlapping anadjacent gate line; color filters formed on or above the semiconductorlayers, the drain lines, the drain electrodes, and the conductivelayers; an insulating layer formed on the color filters; and pixelelectrodes formed on the insulating layer and electrically connected tothe conductive layers through a contact hole, wherein the pixelelectrodes cover both the data lines and the drain electrodes.

An embodiment of the present invention provides a method ofmanufacturing a thin film transistor (TFT) array panel on a substratecomprising forming a plurality of gate lines on the substrate; forming aplurality of gate electrodes by a photolithography process; forming agate insulating layer on the substrate and the gate electrodes; forminga semiconductor layer on the gate insulating layer; forming an ohmiccontact layer on the semiconductor layer; forming a desired active areaby a photolithography process; forming a conductive layer on the gateinsulating layer and the ohmic contact layer; forming a plurality ofdrain electrodes, data lines having a plurality of source electrodes,and a plurality of conductive patterns, the drain electrodes extendingparallel with and adjacent to the data lines, and being connected to theconductive patterns; forming an insulating layer on all of the datalines, the drain electrodes, the source electrodes, the gate insulatinglayer, and the conductive patterns, the insulating layer having acontact hole, and forming a plurality of pixel electrodes on theinsulating layer to cover both the drain electrodes and the data lines,the pixel electrodes being electrically connected to the conductivepatterns through the contact hole.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides a method ofmanufacturing a thin film transistor (TFT) array panel on a substratecomprising forming a plurality of gate lines on the substrate; forming aplurality of gate electrodes patterned by a photolithography processusing a mask; forming a gate insulating layer on the substrate and thegate electrodes; forming a semiconductor layer on the gate insulatinglayer; forming an ohmic contact layer on the semiconductor layer;forming a conductive layer on the ohmic contact layer; forming aplurality of drain electrodes, data lines having a plurality of sourceelectrodes, and a plurality of conductive patterns, the drain electrodesextending parallel with and adjacent to the data lines, and beingconnected to the conductive patterns; forming an insulating layer on allof the data lines, the drain electrodes, the source electrodes, the gateinsulating layer and the conductive patterns, the insulating layerhaving a contact hole, and forming a plurality of pixel electrodes onthe insulating layer to cover both the drain electrodes and the datelines, the pixel electrodes being electrically connected to theconductive patterns through the contact hole.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent from the following detailed descriptionof embodiments thereof, which is to be read in connection with theaccompanying drawings.

This application relies for priority upon Korean Patent Application No.2003-0089491 filed on Dec. 10, 2003, the contents of which are hereinincorporated by reference in its entirety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other features and advantage points of the presentinvention will become more apparent by describing in detailedembodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a layout view of a TFT array panel for a LCD device accordingto an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a layout view of the TFT array panel in intermediate steps ofthe manufacturing method of the TFT array panel of FIGS. 1 to 3;

FIGS. 5 a and 5 b are cross-sectional views taken along lines 5 a-5 aand 5 b-5 b of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a layout view of the TFT array panel in intermediate steps ofthe manufacturing method of the TFT array panel of FIGS. 1 to 3;

FIGS. 7 a and 7 b are cross-sectional views taken along lines 7 a-7 aand 7 b-7 b of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a layout view of the TFT array panel in intermediate steps ofthe manufacturing method of the TFT array panel of FIGS. 1 to 3;

FIGS. 9 a and 9 b are cross-sectional views taken along lines 9 a-9 aand 9 b-9 b of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a layout view of the TFT array panel in intermediate steps ofthe manufacturing method of the TFT array panel of FIGS. 1 to 3;

FIGS. 11 a and 11 b are cross-sectional views taken along lines 11 a-11a and 11 b-11 b of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a layout view of the TFT array panel for the LCD deviceaccording to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 13 and 14 are cross-sectional views taken along lines 13-13 and14-14 of FIG. 12;

FIG. 15 is a layout view of the TFT array panel for the LCD device inthe first manufacturing step according to another embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIGS. 16 a and 16 b are cross-sectional views taken along lines 16 a-16a and 16 b-16 b of FIG. 15;

FIGS. 17 a and 17 b are cross-sectional views depicting subsequent toFIGS. 16 a and 16 b;

FIGS. 18 a and 18 b are cross-sectional views depicting subsequent toFIGS. 17 a and 17 b;

FIG. 19 is a layout view of the TFT array panel for the LCD devicedepicting subsequent to FIGS. 18 a and 18 b;

FIGS. 20 a and 20 b are cross-sectional views taken along lines 20 a-20a and 20 b-20 b of FIG. 19;

FIG. 21 is a layout of the TFT array panel for the LCD device depictingsubsequent to FIGS. 20 a and 20 b;

FIGS. 22 a and 22 b are cross-sectional views taken along lines 22 a-22a and 22 b-22 b of FIG. 21;

FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view of the TFT array panel for the LCDdevice according to further another embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 24 and 25 are cross-sectional views taken along lines 24-24 and25-25 of FIG. 23.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter the embodiments of the present invention will be describedin detail with reference to the accompanied drawings.

A structure of a TFT array panel for a LCD device according to anembodiment of the present invention will be described with reference toFIGS. 1 to 3.

FIG. 1 is a layout view of the TFT array panel for the LCD deviceaccording to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is across-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is across-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

A plurality of gate lines 121 (only two are shown) are formed on aninsulating substrate 110. The gate lines 121 are formed in thehorizontal direction, and have first extended portions which become gateelectrodes 124 and second extended portions 127 extended from the gatelines 121. The gate lines 121 may include a two-layered structure, eachof which has different physical characteristics. For example, one layeris made of a metal having a low resistivity, such as an aluminum-basedconductive layer and the other is made of a material having goodphysical, chemical and electrical contact characteristics with IZO(Indium Zinc Oxide) or ITO (Indium Tin Oxide), such as Mo, MoW alloy,Cr, etc. Edge portions of the gate lines 121 are inclined and theinclined angles are about 30-80° with respect to the surface of theinsulating substrate 110, respectively.

Then, a gate insulating layer 140 made of a material such as siliconnitride (SiNx), etc, is formed on the gate lines 121. A semiconductorlayer 151 made of hydrogenated semiconductor (hereinafter, referred toas “a-Si”) is formed on the gate insulating layer 140. The semiconductorlayer 151 is formed in the vertical direction with respect to the gatelines 121 and has third extended portions 154 extended from thereto.Furthermore, the semiconductor layer 151 becomes wider at the portionmeeting the gate lines 121.

Then, first and second ohmic contact layers 161 and 165 made of, forexample, silicide or n-doped semiconductor, are formed on thesemiconductor layer 151. The first ohmic contact layers 161 havestripe-shaped structures and the second ohmic contact layers 165 haveisland-shaped structures. The first ohmic contact layers 161 haveprotruded portions 163 and the protruded portions 163 are formed on thethird extended portions 154 along with the second ohmic contact layers165. Furthermore, edge portions of the semiconductor layer 151 and thefirst and second ohmic contact layers 161 and 165 are inclined and theinclined angles are about 30-80° with respect to the surface of theinsulating substrate 110.

A plurality of data lines 171 (only two are shown), a plurality of drainelectrodes 175 (only four are shown) and a plurality of storagecapacitor conductors 177 (only two are shown) are formed on the firstand second ohmic contact layers 161 and 165 and the gate insulatinglayer 140, respectively. The data lines 171 are formed intersecting thegate lines 121 and have a plurality of source electrodes 173 (only fourare shown). The source electrodes 173 have a structure symmetrical tothe drain electrodes 175 with respect to the gate electrodes 124. Thegate, source and drain electrodes 124, 173 and 175 along with the thirdextended portion 154 become a thin film transistor (hereinafter,referred to as “TFT”), and the channel region of the TFT is formed inthe third extended portion 154 between the source and drain electrodes173 and 175.

The drain electrodes 175 are formed extending parallel with and adjacentto the data lines 171 and fully overlap pixel electrodes 190. In moredetail, the drain electrodes 175 are covered by black matrixes (notshown). According to this configuration of the present invention, anincreased aperture ratio is obtained in an active region. Furthermore,since the storage capacitor conductors 177 are connected to the drainelectrodes 175 and overlap the second extended portions 127 of theadjacent gate lines 121, it may suppress reduction of the aperture ratioin an active region.

The data lines 171, the drain electrodes 175 and the storage capacitorconductors 177 have a two-layered structure, respectively, for example,a lower layer made of Mo, Mo alloy, Cr, etc. and an upper layer made ofan aluminum-based metal, but may be formed in a the single layer. Edgeportions of the data lines 171, the drain electrodes 175 and the storagecapacitor conductors 177 are inclined in the range of about 30-80°,respectively.

The first and second ohmic contact layers 161 and 165 are disposedbetween the semiconductor layer 151 and the data lines 171 and betweenthe semiconductor layer 151 and the drain electrodes 175, respectively.The semiconductor layer 151 is exposed between the source and drainelectrodes 173 and 175, and between the data lines 171 and the drainelectrodes 175.

A passivation layer 180, which is made of one of an organic materialhaving good flatness and photosensitivity and an insulating materialhaving a low dielectric constant, such as a-Si:C:O, a-Si:O:F, etc. isformed on the data lines 171, the drain electrodes 175, the storagecapacitor conductors 177 and the exposed portions of the semiconductorlayer 151 by a PECVD (Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition) method.

In this embodiment, the passivation layer 180 may include an insulatinglayer made of one of silicon nitride and silicon oxide to prevent thepassivation layer 180 from contacting the exposed portions of thesemiconductor layer 151 between the data lines 171 and the drainelectrodes 175.

Then, a plurality of contact holes 182 and 187 (only two are shown,respectively) are formed through the passivation layer 180 to expose thedata lines 171 and the storage capacitor conductors 177. The contactholes 187 are wider than the contact holes 182 and are formed on thestorage capacitor conductors 177. According to this configuration,although the unintended arrangement of liquid crystal molecules alongthe inclined surface of the contact holes 187 in the vicinity of thedrain electrodes 175 causes leakage of light, the leakage of light isblocked by one of the storage capacitor conductors 177 and the secondextended portion 127. As a result, the present invention may have nodisclination and suppressed reduction of aperture ratio in the activeregion.

The contact holes 182 expose the end portions 179 of the data lines 171through the passivation layer 180 and the data driving circuits (notshown) may be connected to the data lines 171 by an ACF (not shown)through the contact holes 182. The end portions 179 of the data lines171 may be wider than the data lines 171. Furthermore, the end portionsof the gate lines 121 may have a contact hole (not shown). At this time,the passivation layer 180 has a plurality of contact holes that exposethe gate insulating layer 140 and the end portions (not shown) of thegate lines 121. Meanwhile, because the gate driving circuits (not shown)may be formed on the substrate 110 by the same TFT manufacturingprocesses, the gate lines 121 may have no contact holes at their endportions. The contact holes 182 and 187 may not expose an aluminum-basedconductive layer for good contact characteristics with one of ITO andIZO layers, and may expose the boundaries of the end portions of thedata lines 171 and the storage capacitor conductors 177.

A plurality of pixel electrodes 190 (only two are shown) and a pluralityof contact assistant members 82 (only two are shown) made of one of IZOand ITO layers are formed on the passivation layer 180. The pixelelectrodes 190 are electrically connected to the drain electrodes 175and the storage capacitor conductors 177 through the contact holes 187.

The storage capacitor conductors 177, which contact the pixel electrodes190 and overlap the second extended portion 127, are formed under thepassivation layer 180 to narrow the gap between the storage capacitorconductors 177 and the pixel electrodes 190. As described the above, thepixel electrodes 190 overlap the adjacent gate lines 121 and cover thedata lines 171, but the pixel electrodes 190 may not overlap theadjacent gate lines 121 and not cover the data lines 171.

The contact assistant members 82 contact the end portions 179 of thedata lines 171 through the contact holes 182. The contact assistantmembers 82 make the end portions 179 of the data lines 171 contactexternal devices, such as the driving circuits (not shown), but thecontact assistant members 82 may be omitted. Furthermore, the endportions (not shown) of the gate lines 121 may have the contactassistant members.

In this embodiment, since the pixel electrodes 190 cover the data lines171 and are electrically connected to the drain electrodes 175, theparasitic capacitance therebetween becomes constant irrespective of anymisalignment error in manufacturing processes. According to thisconfiguration, the present invention may suppress fluctuation of thepixel voltages applied to the pixel electrodes 190 and suppressreduction of the aperture ratio in an active region.

In another embodiment, the pixel electrodes 190 are made of transparentconductive polymer, etc. and may be made of a non-transparent reflectivemetal in a reflective LCD device. In this case, the contact assistantmembers 82 are made of a material different from the pixel electrodes190, such as one of IZO and ITO.

Now, a method of manufacturing the TFT array panel for the LCD deviceshown in FIGS. 1 to 3 according to an embodiment of the presentinvention will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 4 to11 b

FIG. 4, FIG. 6, FIG. 8 and FIG. 10 are layout views of the TFT arraypanel in intermediate of the manufacturing method of the TFT array panelshown in FIGS. 1 to 3, FIGS. 5 a and 5 b are cross-sectional views takenalong lines 5 a-5 a and 5 b-5 b in FIG. 4, FIGS. 7 a and 7 b arecross-sectional views taken along lines 7 a-7 a and 7 b-7 b in FIG. 6,FIGS. 9 a and 9 b are cross-sectional views taken along lines 9 a-9 aand 9 b-9 b in FIG. 8, and FIGS. 11 a and 11 b are cross-sectional viewstaken along lines 11 a-11 a and 11 b-11 b in FIG. 10.

First, a conductive layer is deposited on the insulating substrate 110made, for example, of a transparent glass by a sputtering method, andthen patterned by a photolithography process. At this time, as shown inFIGS. 4 to 5 b, the gate lines 121 having the gate electrodes 124 andthe second extended portions 127 are formed on the insulating substrate110.

Then, as shown in FIGS. 6 to 7 b, the gate insulating layer 140, anintrinsic semiconductor layer 154 and an extrinsic semiconductor layer164 are sequentially deposited. The intrinsic and extrinsicsemiconductor layers 154 and 164 are patterned by a photolithographyprocess as a mask. Herein, the gate insulating layer 140 may be made ofsilicon nitride and may be deposited in the range of about 2,000˜5,000 Åat about 250˜500° C.

Then, as shown in FIGS. 8 to 9 b, a conductive layer is deposited; aphotoresist film is deposited on the conductive layer and then patternedby a photolithography process using a mask. At this time, the data lines171 having the source electrodes 173, the drain electrodes 175 and thestorage capacitor conductors 177 are formed.

Then, as the photoresist film is left on or removed from the data lines171 and the drain electrodes 175, the extrinsic semiconductor layers 164not covered by all of the data lines 171, the drain electrodes 175 andthe storage capacitor conductors 177 are fully etched by an etchingmethod. At this time, the first and second ohmic contact layers 161 and165, and third ohmic contact layers 163 are formed. Herein, theextrinsic semiconductor layers 164 are etched using CF₄+HCl gas toprevent the molybdenum-based conductive layer used as materials of thedata lines 171 and the drain electrodes 175 from being damaged. Forstabilization of the surface of the semiconductor layer 151, thetreatment of oxygen plasma may be performed in the following process.

Then, the passivation layer 180 is formed by depositing one of aninorganic insulating layer, such as silicon nitride, and an organicinsulating layer having a low dielectric constant. The photoresist filmis then coated on the passivation layer 180 by a spin coating method,and the passivation layer 180 and the gate insulating layer 140 arepatterned by a photolithography process using a mask. At this time, thecontact holes 182 and 187 are formed by exposing the storage capacitorconductors 177 and the end portions 179 of the date lines 171.

Finally, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, one of ITO and IZO layers isdeposited by a sputtering method and patterned by a photolithographyprocess. At this time, the pixel electrodes 190 and the contactassistant members 82 are formed. Herein, the sputtering temperature maybe less than about 250° C. to minimize a contact resistance with otherlayers. In this embodiment, the TFT array panel for the LCD device ismanufactured by photolithography processes using five masks, but may bemanufactured using four masks.

Now, a method of manufacturing the TFT array panel for the LCD deviceusing four masks according to another embodiment of the presentinvention will be described in more detail with reference to thedrawings.

First, the pixel structure of the TFT array panel for the LCD devicewill be described with reference to FIGS. 12 to 14.

FIG. 12 is a layout view of the TFT array panel for the LCD deviceaccording to another embodiment of the present invention and FIGS. 13and 14 are cross-sectional views taken along lines 13-13 and 14-14 inFIG. 12. As shown in FIGS. 12 to 14, the TFT array panel has the samestructure as that of the TFT array panel in FIGS. 1 to 3 with theexception that semiconductor layers 157 and ohmic contact layers 167 areformed between the storage capacitor conductors 177 and the gateinsulating layer 140, and the semiconductor layers 154 and the ohmiccontact layers 165 are formed between the drain electrodes 175 and thegate insulating layer 140. Therefore, the detailed description will beomitted and the same label and reference numerals will be used.

Next, a method of manufacturing the TFT array panel for the LCD devicein FIGS. 12 to 14 will be described in more detail with reference toFIGS. 15 to 22 b.

FIG. 15 is a layout view of the TFT array panel in a manufacturingmethod of the TFT array panel. FIGS. 16 a and 16 b are cross-sectionalviews taken along lines 16 a-16 a and 16 b-16 b in FIG. 15, FIGS. 17 aand 17 b are cross-sectional views showing features formed on FIGS. 16 aand 16 b, FIGS. 18 a and 18 b are cross-sectional views showing featuresformed on FIGS. 17 a and 17 b, FIG. 19 is a layout view of the TFT arraypanel showing features formed subsequent to FIGS. 18 a and 18 b, FIGS.20 a and 20 b are cross-sectional views taken along lines 20 a-20 a and20 b-20 b in FIG. 19, FIG. 21 is a layout view of the TFT array panel inthe next step of FIGS. 20 a and 20 b, and FIGS. 22 a and 22 b are across-sectional view taken along lines 21-21 and 21′-21′ in FIG. 21.

As shown in FIG. 15 and FIGS. 16 a and 16 b, a conductive layer isdeposited on the insulating substrate 110 and patterned by aphotolithography process. At this time, the gate lines 121 having thegate electrodes 124 are formed.

As shown in FIGS. 17 a and 17 b, the gate insulating layer 140, anintrinsic semiconductor layer 150 and an extrinsic semiconductor layer160 are sequentially deposited by a CVD method, such as a PECVD method,in the thickness of about 1,500˜5,000 Å, about 500˜2,000 Å, and about300˜600 Å, respectively. Then, a conductive layer 170 is deposited by,for example, a sputtering method, and then the photoresist film iscoated in the thickness of about 1˜2 um. Photoresist patterns 52 and 54are formed by developing the photoresist film using a mask (not shown).

At this time, the developed photoresist film includes three “A”, “B” and“C” regions. Reference numeral 52 is the “A” region (hereinafter,referred to as “a wiring region”) and reference numeral 54 is the “C”region (hereinafter, referred to as “a channel region”). The “B” region(hereinafter, referred to as “other region”) has no reference numeralbecause the conductive layer 170 is fully exposed in the “B” region.Herein, the thickness ratio of the “A” and “C” regions depends on thecondition of the next process. For example, the thickness of the “C”region 54 may be half of the “A” region 52 and may be less than about4,000 Å.

For convenience, the conductive layer 170, the extrinsic semiconductorlayer 160 and the intrinsic semiconductor layer 150 in the “A” regionare defined as a 1^(st) portion, the conductive layer 170, the extrinsicsemiconductor layer 160 and the intrinsic semiconductor layer 150 in the“C” region are defined as a 2^(nd) portion, and the conductive layer170, the extrinsic semiconductor layer 160 and the intrinsicsemiconductor layer 150 in the “B” region are defined as a 3^(rd)portion.

A first method of manufacturing the structure of the TFT array panel inFIG. 19 and FIGS. 20 a and 20 b is described below.

-   -   (1) Removing the conductive layer 170, the extrinsic        semiconductor layer 160 and the intrinsic semiconductor layer        150 in the 3^(rd) portion,    -   (2) Removing the photoresist film in the 2^(nd) portion,    -   (3) Removing the conductive layer 170 and the extrinsic        semiconductor layer 160 in the 2^(nd) portion, and    -   (4) Removing the photoresist film in the 1^(st) portion.

A second method of manufacturing the structure of the TFT array panel inFIG. 19, and FIGS. 20 a and 20 b is described below.

-   -   (1) Removing the conductive layer 170 in the 3^(rd) portion,    -   (2) Removing the photoresist film in the 2^(nd) portion,    -   (3) Removing the extrinsic semiconductor layer 160 and the        intrinsic semiconductor layer 150 in the 3^(rd) portion,    -   (4) Removing the conductive layer 170 in the 2^(nd) portion,    -   (5) Removing the photoresist film in the 1^(st) portion, and    -   (6) Removing the extrinsic semiconductor layer 160 in the 2^(nd)        portion.

Herein, the first method will be described in more detail with referenceto the drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 18 a and 18 b, the conductive layer 170 exposed in the3^(rd) portion is etched by one of dry and wet etching methods, and atthis time, the extrinsic semiconductor layer 160 in the 3^(rd) portionis exposed. For example, the aluminum-based conductive layer is etchedby a wet etching method and the molybdenum-based conductive layer may beetched by one of dry and wet etching methods. In the dry etching, someof the top of the photoresist films 52 and 54 may be etched, too.

Then, the extrinsic semiconductor layer 160 and the intrinsicsemiconductor layer 150 in the 3^(rd) portion and the photoresist filmin the 2^(nd) portion are removed, and at this time, the conductivelayer 170 in the 2^(nd) portion is exposed. The photoresist film 54 inthe 2^(nd) portion, and the extrinsic and intrinsic semiconductor layers160 and 150 in the 3^(rd) portion may be simultaneously or separatelyremoved. Herein, the remaining photoresist film in the 2^(nd) portionmay be removed by an ashing method and the first and second intrinsicsemiconductor layers 151 and 157 are formed.

Then, as shown in FIGS. 19, 20 a and 20 b, the conductive layer 170 andthe extrinsic semiconductor layer 160 in the 2^(nd) portion are etchedand the photoresist film in the 1^(st) portion is also removed. At thistime, since some of the top of the third extended portion 154 in the2^(nd) portion may be removed, the thickness of the third extendedportion 154 may become smaller. The conductive layer 170 is formed asthe data line 171, the drain electrode 175 and the storage capacitorconductor 177, and the extrinsic semiconductor layer 160 is formed asthe first, second and third ohmic contact layers 161, 165 and 163, and afourth ohmic contact layer 167.

Then, as shown in FIGS. 21, 22 a and 22 b, the passivation layer 180 isformed by depositing an organic material over the substrate 110 andpatterned by a photolithography process using a mask. At this time, thecontact holes 187 and 182 are formed. The gate insulating layer 140 maybe simultaneously etched to form a contact hole exposing the same layeras the gate lines 121.

Finally, referring back to FIGS. 12 to 14, one of the IZO and ITO layersis deposited in the thickness of about 500˜1,500 Å by a sputteringmethod, and then the pixel electrodes 190 and the contact assistantmembers 82 are formed by a photolithography process. The IZO layer maybe wet-etched using a solvent for chrome etching, for example,HNO₃/(NH₄)₂Ce(NO₃)₆/H₂O, and this solvent may prevent an aluminum-basedconductive layer formed on the date lines 171, the drain electrodes 175and the gate lines 121 from being eroded.

In this embodiment, the data lines 171, the storage capacitor conductor177, the drain electrodes 175, the first, second and third ohmic contactlayers 161, 165 and 167, and the first and second intrinsicsemiconductor layers 151 and 157 are formed by one photolithographyprocess. As a result, the manufacturing process may be simplified.

Furthermore, the wiring structure of the TFT array panel according theembodiments of the present invention may be applied to COA-LCD (Colorfilters On Array-LCD). Now, it will be described with reference to thedrawings.

FIG. 23 is a layout view of the structure of the TFT panel array for theLCD device according to further another embodiment of the presentinvention, and FIGS. 24 and 25 are a cross-sectional view taken alonglines 24-24 and 25-25 in FIG. 23. The TFT panel array for the LCD devicehas the same structure as that of FIGS. 1 and 2 except that R, G, Bcolor filters 230R, 230G and 230B are formed on the TFT array. Now, thedetailed description will be omitted and the same label and referencenumerals will be used.

Herein, the boundaries of the R, G, B color filters 230R, 230G and 230Bmay match with the data lines 171, but may overlap the data lines 171.As a result, this structure may block leakage of light between the pixelregions.

Meanwhile, an insulating layer, which is made of an inorganic insulatingmaterial, for example, silicon nitride or silicon oxide, etc. may beadded under the R, G, B color filters 230R, 230G and 230B to prevent theorganic insulating material from contacting the semiconductor layer 151.At this time, the contact holes 187 exposing the storage capacitorconductors 177 may be formed between the color filters 230R, 230G and230B. It should be noted that the COA-LCD device has the same effects asin the above embodiments.

The data lines 171 in the TFT array panel for the LCD device accordingto further another embodiment of the present invention are covered bythe pixel electrodes 190. According to this configuration, the presentinvention may suppress variation of the parasitic capacitance betweenthe pixel electrodes 190 and the data lines 171 due to the misalignmenterror in the manufacturing processes. In more detail, although the pixelelectrodes 190 and the data lines 171 are misaligned in themanufacturing processes, the pixel voltage applied to the pixelelectrode 190 is not varied.

The drain electrodes 175 are formed adjacent to the data lines 171 andare covered by the black matrixes, and are electrically connected to thepixel electrodes 190 through the contact holes 187. According to thisconfiguration of the present invention, the increased aperture ratio isobtained.

Having described the embodiments of the present invention and itsadvantages, it should be noted that various changes, substitutions andalterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention as defined by appended claims.

1. A thin film transistor (TFT) array panel comprising: an insulatingsubstrate; a first gate line and a second gate line formed on theinsulating substrate, the second gate line adjacent to the first gateline; a gate insulating layer formed on the first and second gate lines;a semiconductor layer formed on the gate insulating layer andoverlapping a portion of the second gate line; a first data line formedon the semiconductor layer and including a source electrode; a drainelectrode including a first portion facing the source electrode withrespect to the semiconductor layer, and a second portion extendingparallel with and adjacent to the first data line, the second portionextending from the first portion toward and proximate the first gateline; a conductive layer directly connected to the drain electrode andproximate the first gate line; an insulating layer formed on thesemiconductor layer, the first data line, the drain electrode, and theconductive layer; and a pixel electrode formed on the insulating layerand electrically connected to the conductive layer through a contacthole proximate the first gate line, wherein the second portion of thedrain electrode is located near a boundary of the pixel electrode and iscovered by a black matrix.
 2. The TFT array panel of claim 1, whereinthe pixel electrode covers both a second data line adjacent to the firstdata line and the drain electrode.
 3. The TFT array panel of claim 1,wherein the insulating layer is made of an organic insulating material.4. The TFT array panel of claim 1, wherein the insulating layer is madeof color filters.
 5. The TFT array panel of claim 1, wherein theconductive layer extends substantially parallel to the first gate line.6. The TFT array panel of claim 1, wherein the conductive layer extendssubstantially perpendicular to the second portion of the drainelectrode.
 7. The TFT array panel of claim 2, wherein the pixelelectrode covers an entire width of the second data line.
 8. The TFTarray panel of claim 1, wherein the drain electrode is electricallyconnected to a thin film transistor electrically connected to the secondgate line.
 9. The TFT array panel of claim 1, wherein the conductivelayer is fully covered by a portion of the first gate line.
 10. A thinfilm transistor (TFT) array panel comprising: an insulating substrate; agate line formed on the insulating substrate; a gate insulating layerformed on the gate line; a semiconductor layer formed on the gateinsulating layer; a first data line formed on the semiconductor layerand having a source electrode; an insulating layer formed on or abovethe semiconductor layer, and the first data line; and a pixel electrodeformed on the insulating layer, wherein the pixel electrode entirelycovers two extending edges of a second data line adjacent to the firstdata line, the pixel electrode not being connected to the second dataline and connected to the first data line through a thin filmtransistor, and the pixel electrode does not overlap the first dataline.
 11. The TFT array panel of claim 10, wherein the second data lineis covered by a black matrix.
 12. The TFT array panel of claim 10wherein the insulating layer is made of an organic insulating material.13. The TFT array panel of claim 10, wherein the insulating layer ismade of color filters.